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I also feel kids should be #1.

I try hard to make sure my kids talk to me now so they can talk to me when they are older. Phoenix has already started asking me about sex and certain terms, that he has heard on the bus. It makes me wish I could pick him up from school everyday.

When I was 6,7, and 8, all I knew about sex was that it was something grown-ups did, and I was happy to leave it at that, and the subject didn't come up anong my friends and I. Even the teenagers would at least be respectful enough to watch themselves around the youngsters, and they actually worried that we would repeat stuff. Now, no one cares what they spew out of their mouths no matter who is there or what age they are.

As for Barbies, I never held myself to the physical standards of which Barbie is. It never equated that she was "perfect". I never wanted to be big chested, and I always wished Barbie was a bit more "real shaped". I liked having a mom and dad doll. I pretended Barbie was pregnant when my mom was pregnant with my little brother. I always pretended Barbie and Ken were married. I never knew Barbie had her own back-story. So in the 90's, when they introduced the first pregnant Barbie, and everyone threw a major fit, I suddenly understood that Barbie was single and barely out of her teenage years. LOL... I don't see a problem with having pregnant dolls that have babies. As a girl, me and my little friends would always play pregnant, especially when someone's mom was pregnant.

The only thing that bothers me about Barbie is the slutty clothes, but we just don't buy the slutty ones. At least they aren't blatantly named "Club Scene" Barbie, the Bratz can't say so much for themselves. You could say it's honesty on the part of the Bratz, but it still seems crazy anyway you put it.

I actually think Barbie as an astronaut, veterinarian, doctor, lawyer, babysitter, pilot, executive, princess, and even mother is awesome. The other character dolls are all about getting more clothes, bling, and brand related stuff. Barbie is a stand-alone item in herself if you so choose. I like how they still focus on carreers for Barbie, and I feel even as a mother, it has the possibility to be an empowering toy, as long as you take time to use it as such.

Well, I don't allow the Teenage shows, yet. I will lax a bit for my oldest when I feel the time is right.

I just HATE Spongebob, along with other programs. I would probably snap if I saw either of my kids emulating that show. So, it is my house, and if they learn there are boundaries now when it comes to the TVs then they won't have such a problem when they are older, because they will be used to it.

Besides, I want my kids being constructive with their time. I don't mind them liking one or 2 things allot, but the frenzy of everyone liking everything leads to a thoughtless and unappreciative attitude.

I watched my niece go through a new fad every week, and her parents catered to it. She got spoiled, she tired of everything she got by the end of the week, and she had more clutter than she knew what to do with. She was ALWAYS bored, and she just expected that she was going to get the newest thing when as soon as it came along. All her stuff would get broken, and she would break it intentionally when she was tired of it. I used to want to slap her silly sometimes, because she wouldn't even dream of taking care of stuff and passing it on to her younger cousins.

Anyway, by limiting TV intake, and program exposure, I find it is easier on my checkbook to adhere to a couple of types of toys, with less crying because they really want something. My kids know what they have, they take care of what they have, and they are ready to pass it on when they would like to start collecting something new. They keep their rooms clean, and I don't have a designing nightmare with 20 different themes happening for no other reason but that it's popular and on TV.

We tried the whatever whenever thing for awhile with my oldest, but it quickly got out of hand and I struggled to get things under control again. I really think it is easier on everyone when discipline starts before it is needed. We are a pretty tight and happy family.

Terrible.

Well, a lot don't any more. I find the trouble you are talking or something ad the kid just comes outta no where. O.O

Yep...

Oh god. O.O I feel sorry for you! So very sorry for you!

That is terrible~ But, in a lot of schools, you learn about the cycle. at some point. (Or your friends parents are really odd...)

Woah~ If you turn it off all together, just know there might be tears. (I know we had a lot when we turned it off~)

... Speaking of Max & Ruby...

Where is their parents? You never see them. But you do see every other adult in the community. Poor Ruby does everything a mother should do. She feeds, dresses, bathes, picks up after, and tucks in her little brother Max. Grandma checks in on them every other episode or so. I can't help but wonder, I myself have to at least do a phone check on my kids (other than school) if I haven't seen them in a few hours.

The kids never even talk about their parents. Do I sense some underlying issues here?

My husband and I decided that when my daughter starts asking questions, she's old enough to know. Honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 6-year-old knowing how babies are made. My sister-in-law knew what hookers in Vegas did when she was 6. (She was the flower girl at my wedding in Vegas, and there were fliers for different working girls and dancers EVERYWHERE. So she asked questions, and her parents answered her honestly.) As long as the information comes as complete as possible from someone trust worthy, I don't think that it's a problem.

The problem is when incorrect information comes from people with alteration motives. Public schools are breeding grounds for horror stories and misinformation. It's just inherent in the environment. stare

OMG! IT"S THE MATT SMITH EPISODES!!! WHY DIDN"T YOU TELL ME!!! gonk

*runs off to watch the 2nd part of the Pandorica 2 parter*

Well, I know about being a "go-to" for some of the teenagers around here, and I am not even the mother of a teenager yet. It makes me nervous though, because I have several random kids that approach me, with no other affiliation other than they know me.

It just seems to happen, and I guess it adds to my paranoia of my own kids learning things before I would like them to. I had one 14 year old girl, who is my son's friend's older sister, come and talk to me about an older boy she likes, and how she planned on sneaking out to be with him. Then she pedantically went on about some teen Nick shows like it was the teenagers handbook on how to act and be cool. She started to go into detail about what her hopes and dreams were with this boy, and I had to stop her. Then I tried to give her a reality check, and a bit of a pep talk about confidence.

After that, these kids just show up with her at times to play therapy session with me. I try to be extra careful about what I say and how I say it. The last thing I need is an angry parent beating down my front door. I will admit that I kinda like the practice, but at the same time, I know not every parent has the same parenting style as me. Of course, it seems that allot of these teens are left to their own devices more often than not, which I find sad.

Pretty much yeah. The kids tend to lose curiosity at a certain point so I let them kind take the conversation as far as they want. I try to give as minimal but honest answers that I can, and wait for them to ask more questions if they want more info.

There has been a couple of times where I have had to tell a teen to talk to a family member, but that is when I see that my beliefs are in conflict with what another family's belief is. Such as a discussion that a girl and I got into that lead to us talking about the beginning of life, and the implications of abortion. Or one that got into how truly valid is marriage by the state, and if it's Ok to live with a boyfriend or girlfriend before marriage. Or my personal favorite, "What's the best contraceptive?" I nixed that one before there was ever a conversation. When it comes to straight up opinions, I try not to be too liberal with expressing mine at a young person.

I sometimes wonder why these kids even come to me though, as I tend to call their parents (or for around here, whoever is their legal guardian) after the conversation to tell them that we had the conversation. I like to be prepared for the inevitable door beating if I am gonna get it, and it doesn't really hurt me any if a parent says that their teenager can't come and visit me anymore. So far I haven't had any issues, and most parents are relieved that someone actually talked to their kid 'cause they can't do it. The reaction that bothers me is when parents do the whole, "Well, I don't know why she felt she couldn't talk to me about it."